USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 104
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with the nicely arranged departments of goods. The proprietor strives to supply his customers with just what they wish in his line, and his courtesy to everyone with whom he has dealings makes him popular with all classes.
In his political creed Mr. Weldt is an ar- dent Democrat, and for the past eight years he has served as city treasurer of the city of San Pedro. He takes an active interest in our city schools, and for many years served as a member of the board of education, resigning some time ago in order to devote his attention more exclusively to other matters.
The organization known as the Native Sons of the Golden West was a flourishing society here- abouts for a period, and Mr. Weldt took an active part in its meetings as long as it continued in existence. He deserves great credit for the manly way in which he has met and overcome the difficulties with which a poor youth always has to contend, as he is a self-made man in every respect.
ROF. JAMES A. FOSHAY. The state of New York has been very prolific and gen- erous in supplying other parts of the coun- try with honorable and able men. She added to that list a worthy name when she gave James A. Foshay to Southern California. The early years of his life were quietly passed in the east. Little, indeed, did it then enter his mind that before he would enter the old age of youth or cross the threshold of the youth of old age, he would be superintendent of schools in a city of one hundred and twenty thousand people, a city whose educa- tional facilities are the peer of any other in these great United States.
Dr. Foshay was born at Cold Spring, N. Y., November 25, 1856. His father, Andrew Jack- son Foshay, a native of the same village, born January 21, 1830, married Emeline Griffin, who was born at Garrison, N. Y., May 18, 1829. Both are yet living. His father was a son of Lynes and Ruhannah (Smalley) Foshay, who lived on a farm at Kent, N. Y., and his maternal grandparents were John and Effie Griffin, natives of Phillipstown, Putnam county, N. Y. He had two great-grandfathers, John Smalley and John Foshay, who served with honor in the Revolu-
tionary war, and the former of these attained the age of one hundred and one years.
After having gained a rudimentary education in an old-time district school, the subject of this article in 1875 entered what is now known as the State Normal College at Albany, N. Y., and from that institution he graduated with honor in 1879. For three years he taught in public schools, after which he was elected school com- missioner of Putnam county, N. Y., for a term of three years. At the expiration of that period he was re-elected. About the time of his second call to the office, in 1884, he was chosen secretary of the New York State Association of School Commissioners and Superintendents. In 1885 and 1886 he was re-elected to that important trust.
March 18, 1885, Prof. Foshay married Miss Phebe Powell Miller, who was born in Carmel, Putnani county, N. Y., May 2, 1856. Her father, John Griffin Miller, was born in Ama- walk, Westchester county, N. Y., the son of a wealthy and respected farmer of that county; he became a lawyer and engaged in practice at Carmel, where he died. His wife was Phebe Powell Carpenter, who was born in Amawalk, daughter of Isaac Carpenter, a land owner of Westchester county.
After his marriage Prof. Foshay resided in Putnam county until his term of office expired. In 1887 he and his wife came to California and settled in Monrovia, where he taught success- fully in the grammar school. In July, 1888, he was elected principal of the Monrovia school, a position that he filled acceptably, winning sure ground for more extensive usefulness. During 1889 he was appointed a member of the board of education of Los Angeles county, which station he held for six years, being president of the board in 1891-92. In 1893 he was called to the position of deputy superintendent of schools in Los An- geles city; re-elected in 1894, and in 1895 was chosen superintendent, which position he still ac- ceptably fills. It is a matter of record and con- gratulation among all of the people that at no time in the history of the schools of Los Angeles has such great progress been made and such ef- ficiency maintained in all departments, as under the wise and judicious management of the man who now directs them.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In June, 1898, the degree of Doctor of Ped- agogy was conferred upon Prof. Foshay. The following personal letter is self-explanatory:
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
State Normal College, Albany, N. Y.
June 16th, 1898. DR. JAMES A. FOSHAY, Superintendent of Schools, Los Angeles, Cal.
My Dear Dr. Foshay :-
Our institution to-day conferred upon you the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy. This degree can- not be earned by passing examinations, but is given to those only who have distinguished themselves as educators. It is therefore a mark of distinction and a proper recognition of your high rank as an educator.
The secretary of our board of trustees will probably notify you of the action taken to-day, but I could not refrain from sending you my own congratulations.
Very sincerely yours, (Signed) WILLIAM J. MILNE.
The appreciation in which Dr. Foshay is held as an educator is shown by his election as presi- dent of the Southern California Teachers' Asso- ciation, also his election as member of the Califor- nia Council of Education and the National Coun- cil of Education, and as second vice-president of the National Educational Association. In 1898 he came east to the National Educational Asso- ciation's convention, where he succeeded, in spite of considerable opposition, in securing a de- cision to hold the next meeting of the association in Los Angeles. Of the success of this gathering, held in 1899, there has been no question; it is universally admitted to have been one of the most profitable and pleasant conventions ever held by the organization, and this fact is largely due to the unwearied efforts of the one who from the first championed the selection of this city for the convention.
Dr. Foshay is a director of the Southern Cali- fornia Academy of Sciences and has taken an ac- tive part in musical culture and in literary soci- eties. The addresses he has made upon impor- tant educational topics are preserved and studied as affording thought for mental development. Among these addresses are: "School Super-
vision," "The Teacher's Work," "School Disci- pline," "Vocal Music as an Educational Fac- tor," "Some Additions to the Three Rs," "Pub- lic School Methods in Sunday School Work" and "Some Tendencies in Modern Education." Dr. Foshay is interested in politics only as an educa- tor, but votes the Republican ticket. He is an enthusiastic Mason and is at present deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of California and eminent commander of Los Angeles Com- madery No. 9, K. T. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church and are promi- nent in social functions of a high-class.
The field of compliment must always be en- tered with delicacy by the biographical writer; yet he cannot forbear the statement that he who admires intelligent expression of countenance, square shoulders, well-proportioned body, a mag- nificent physique with a dignified bearing, will find them all in Dr. Foshay, who has chosen a calling in life, which, when faithfully pursued, lifts out of the bane and blight of ignorance a multitude to bless the providence that made the way possible for great achievements.
ILLIAM S. VAWTER. No citizen of Santa Monica is more thoroughly repre- sentative or has been more devoted to the promotion of its welfare than William S. Vawter, whose name is widely known for the prominent part he has taken in local progress and develop- ment. His means and influence have been un- sparingly used in the fostering of infant enter- prises and industries and improvements which he believed would prove of permanent benefit to the place of his abode and to Southern California in general. Wealth and high standing came to him as the reward of long-continued, indefatiga- ble industry, and no one who has known him in past years, and is aware of the bravery and pluck with which he met and conquered the obstacles in his pathway, one by one, could for a moment feel envious of his success.
Perhaps Mr. Vawter inherited some of his busi- ness ability from his father, who was a well-to-do merchant of Vernon, Ind., for a great many years. William S. was born in the town men- tioned, April 1, 1845, and when he was sixteen years old lie became deputy to his father, who
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
had been appointed postmaster of Vernon by President Lincoln. For four years the young man continued to serve the public in that capac- ity, and then for about a year he acted in the po- sition of deputy county clerk of Jennings county . The year that he attained his majority he took charge of the Vernon Banner, a weekly news- paper, which he carried on for two years success- fully. His next venture was to embark in the manufacturing business in Vernon, and thus he was employed until 1875.
In August of the year mentioned William S. and E. J. Vawter, brothers, joined their interests and came to California, and here it may be said that from that time until the present they have been actively associated in scores of enterprises, their relations being extremely harmonious. Ar- riving in Santa Monica before any improvements whatever had been made, they nevertheless de- cided to make their permanent home here, fore- seeing that a flourishing town was destined to spring into life here. For ten years, from 1875 to 1885, the brothers conducted a mercantile busi- ness, and then embarked in the lumber trade and established the First National Bank of Santa Monica, William S. giving his chief attention to the management of the lumber business; while E. J. served as president of the bank. Later they founded the Commercial Company of Santa Monica, now a thriving concern, of which E. J. is the president and W. S. the vice-president. They were the leaders in the building of the horse-car line from Santa Monica to the Soldiers' Home and continued to operate it for a number of years, or until the new electric road from Los Angeles was being constructed, when they sold out to that company. Soon after their coming to this state they were actively connected with the little colony which founded Pasadena upon land bought for that purpose, and both brothers still own valuable real estate there, as well as in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Originally they owned one hundred acres of land adjoining the corporation limits of Santa Monica, and after dis- posing of a portion of it they retain a large and very desirable tract. Two years ago W. S. Vawter erected a handsome modern residence in one of their additions to Santa Monica, known as Ocean Park, and the prospects for the future of this re- sort are very bright. The site overlooks the
ocean on the west, while on the east and south is a beautiful valley. All kinds of trees and flow- ering plants have been set out, and within a few years it is more than likely that scores of valna- ble homes will dot the landscape at this attractive point.
Among the innumerable local enterprises in which Mr. Vawter has been financially concerned the city water-works plant, which he assisted in establishing, has been one of the most useful to the public. He was the first trustee of the town after its incorporation, and has figured more or less in local politics. When President Harrison was the chief executive, he appointed Mr. Vawter to the position of postmaster of the town, and he continued to serve in that capacity until Cleve- land had been in office for about a year. He is a stanch Republican, and fraternally is a Knight of Pythias. As might be expected of so good a citizen, he has been deeply interested in the public-school system, and served as a member of the board of school trustees for a period.
In 1868 Mr. Vawter married Miss Sarah M. McClasky, a native of Jackson county, Ind., but then a resident of Vernon. The only child of this union is Mary C., wife of John R. Moore, of the Los Angeles National Bank.
OHN P. FLEMING. Among the promi- nent and influential. pioneers living in the vicinity of Downey may be mentioned John P. Fleming, who, since taking up his residence here in 1869, has had much to do with the devel- oping of the great resources of the locality. Be- fore settling in California he led a somewhat roving life, and in his travels over different parts of the country supplemented a rather defective education by constantly acquired information on many subjects.
A native of Madison county, N. C., he was born September 5, 1846, and is a son of Jamies G. and Elizabeth (Davis) Fleming, natives re- spectively of Virginia and North Carolina. He received his early training on his father's farm, and, as opportunity offered, attended the schools of his district. When sixteen years of age he volunteered and joined the Confederate Sons of America, and was in the Second North Carolina Battalion, Company A (Captain Allen), General
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Daniels' brigade, which constituted part of the army of Virginia. He served under General Lee for three years, and was elevated to the rank of second lieutenant and sent back to North Carolina. Here he served as second lieutenant of the state troops until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Roanoke Island, where he was captured with four thousand others, and after being exchanged took part in the battles of Snicker's Ferry, Va., and Little Washington, N. C. On the retreat from Gettysburg, while in General Daniel's brigade, he was shot in the leg with a spent ball while on the skirmish line. He was also in many other battles and skirmishes in East Tennessee and western Virginia.
After the war Mr. Fleming returned to North Carolina, and in August of 1865 he started for Texas, having only $1.50 and an old silver watch, and rode a mule the entire distance. In August of 1868 he started for California flat broke, traveling by way of mule and horseback, and assisting in driving a large herd of cattle, one thousand four hundred in number. The journey across the plains was a long and tedious one, having several skirmishes with Indians dur- ing the route, and lasted from August until the following January. When they arrived at their destination in Southern California they had one thousand head of cattle, having sold two hundred head in Arizona and lost two hundred en route.
Mr. Fleming settled permanently on his pres- ent ranch upon first coming to California. April 14, 1869, he married Mary E. Johnson, a na- tive of Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Fleming were born eight children (seven of whom are living): William C., a dairyman; Mrs. L. E. Dahling; Elizabeth, deceased; John L., an attor- ney at Los Angeles; Frost F., an engineer; Dave P., a student; Ella and Eula.
Mr. Fleming's land was unimproved when first purchased, and the high state of cultivation is due to his enterprise and arduous efforts. He personally planted all of the fruit-bearing trees, and prepared the soil for the reception of the seed. In addition to his original ranch he owns a thirty-acre dairy farm near Downey, at present milking fifty head. The farm, for excellence of management and perfection of detail, is unsur- passed. He is the possessor of a forty-acre farm at Calabasas, npon which are raised hay and grain;
also owns a seventy-acre stock ranch three miles south of Downey. It will thus be seen that his time is much occupied with his various enter- prises. He yet has time, however, to devote to the institutions erected for the bettering and im- provement of his locality. For one year he served as water overseer of Los Nietos in the '8os. For seven years he was manager of the Arroyo Ditch, and is now president of the Arroyo Ditch Com- pany No. 1. He is a member of the Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Growers' Association; also a stockholder in the Downey Co-operative Cream- ery, the most successful creamery in the state.
In politics Mr. Fleming is affiliated with the Democratic party, but has never been an office seeker. He is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive and successful of the large land owners of his vicinity, and has won the esteem of the community by his adherence to principle and his intelligent interest in all that pertains to the de- velopment of his adopted country. In spite of his very active life, full of hardships and respon- sibilities, he is as energetic as he was in youth; he has just purchased a new saddle, and says he can ride as well as when he rode the mule to California.
ULIUS B. WILLEY. Prior to taking up his permanent residence near Whittier, Julius B. Willey led a life full of variety, change and adventure. To such an one the peaceful phase of existence as an horticulturist, agricul- turist or grower of English walnuts in this land of abundant sunshine, and almost invariable good humor, must be a haven, indeed.
The very early days of Julius B. Willey were spent on his father's farm near New Albany, Ind., where he was born June 5, 1848. His father, Brazila Willey, died when our subject was only ten months old. When only three years old his mother, Augusta (Woodroof) Willey, moved from Indiana to Appanoose county, Iowa, where they lived for several years. Subsequently, how- ever, they went to Allen county, Kans., where the lad grew to be a man, and where he received an excellent home training and the usual educa- tion to be derived at the public schools.
July 1, 1864, Mr. Willey enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, under General Pope. The company operated extensively against the
Lamis Mesine
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Indians on the plains, and was engaged during the entire war, being mustered out of service in November, 1865. After the war Mr. Willey en- gaged in farm pursuits in Allen county, Kans., until 1872, and then settled in Ventura county, Cal., where he was also interested in agriculture for a short time. Subsequently he went to Ari- zona, and spent a time in each of four different counties, covering a period altogether of twenty years, during which time he successfully engaged in stock-raising.
Mr. Willey was married in Kansas to Nellie F. Williams, of Allen county, that state, and of this union there are eight children: Joseph A., Fred- erick H., Walter W., Harry R., John F., Benja- min H., Nellie F. and George E. Mr. Willey is a Republican, but has never been an office-seeker. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public at Whittier.
Mr. Willey's claim consists of twenty-seven and a half acres, mostly devoted to the cultiva- tion of English walnuts and alfalfa. He has de- veloped his ranch from a grain-field to its present condition of utility and resource. As a business man he has abundant opportunity to justify the great expectations of his friends and associates in the capacity of vice-president of the Colina Tract Water Company. As an enterprising, re- liable citizen, as a man and friend, and as a pro- mulgator of many enterprises for the upbuilding of the community in which he lives, Mr. Willey has no peer.
OUIS MESMER was born in the village of Surburd, Canton Sulz, Alsace, France (110W Germany), February 20, 1829. His boy- hood days were employed in helping his parents to cultivate their various pieces or strips of land, with only such limited schooling in the winter time that inclemency of the weather would not otherwise permit. At the age of fourteen years he went to the town of Hagenau, about fourteen miles distant, to learn the baker's trade, and after having served an apprenticeship of four years he went to the city of Strassburg, where he started a bakery. This flourished, and soon his business was sought after and he sold out, going to the city of Colmar, thence to Paris, where he stayed for some time. There he con- cluded to trend his way westward to the city of
Havre, with the ultimate view of getting to the United States. At Havre he opened a stand for the sale of doughuuts. These soon became popu- lar, and ready buyers for his stand were numer- ous, and he had no difficulty in making a good sale. He then embarked for New York, from there to Syracuse, thence to Buffalo. Being un- able to talk English, he took employment as a journeyman. After he became fairly advanced in the English language he went from Buffalo to Cincinnati, thence to Dayton; from there to Tip- pecanoe City, Ohio, where he began a bakery business. After successfully establishing himself he married Miss Katherine Forst.
Three years afterward he determined to seek his fortune in California, and in the spring of 1858 left Tippecanoe City for New York City; thence by steamer via Panama to San Francisco. Upon his arrival at San Francisco the Calavares and Mokelimme Hill gold excitements were at their height, which attracted him to these mining regions. When the news was heralded of the rich discoveries in Cariboo, British Columbia, he at once returned to San Francisco to take the steamer for Victoria to the Cariboo and Fraser river mines. Not finding himself to be a suc- cessful miner he returned to Victoria and there opened a bakery. His bread soon became so famous that the English officials furnished him with flour to make their bread. For this he was favored in the buying of his flour. Here his op- portunities for making money were most satis- factory, but owing to the absence of his family he decided to sell out, which he did, returning to San Francisco. From San Francisco he wrote to his family to meet him there. In the interval of their coming he took employment on one of the Panama Pacific mail steamers as pastry baker. On the arrival in San Francisco of his family, which then consisted of his wife and son Joseph, he met them upon the return of his steamer, and after a few days' stop in San Francisco he was informed that Los Angeles was a good prospec- tive town, so with his family he took steamer passage for Los Angeles, arriving here in Octo- ber, 1859. Los Angeles had a population at that time of about thirty-five hundred people. It was a lively place; everybody seemed to have money, for those who had money were willing to give to those who had none. After a short stay at the
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Lafayette (now known as the St. Elmo) hotel he purchased Ulyard's bakery, southwest corner of First and Main streets, where the Natick house now stands. In less than a year he had control of all the best bread patrons in the city. He was the only baker that ever made Jewish passover bread in this city, and this he sold to nearly all the Jewish families in Southern California. This bakery he sold out in the year 1861 at a good ad- vance and purchased the New York bakery from Peter Balz, and after a short while he had this bakery in a very flourishing condition.
The outbreak of the war of the Rebellion caused the stationing here of a regiment of sol- diers under Colonel Carlton. The selection of their camp was made on the La Ballona ranch, near Balloua creek, and about three-quarters of a mile southwest from the present La Ballona Railroad station, which was named Camp Leigh- ton. Mr. Mesmer secured the contract to furnish bread for the soldiers. He built a brick bake- oven on the grounds, supplied all the bread to the soldiers and ranchers in that vicinity, while at the same time he was conducting his business, the New York bakery, in this city. The con- ducting of two places of business at two points so widely separated, each necessitating his pres- ence, made it too difficult, so he sold out the New York bakery (which at that time had grown to considerable proportions), and established a small bakery in the building on the southwest corner of Los Angeles and Commercial streets. After a few months he moved his bakery to North Main street, where the First National Bank is now located. This being a good stand the business soon prospered. In the spring of 1863 the sol- diers were moved from Camp Leighton to tem- porary camp at Highland Park, near the Occi- dental College. The soldiers were then furnished with bread from his Los Angeles bakery, and the Camp Leighton bakery was moved, except the bake-oven.
In the fall of 1863, having heard of the large profits made by traders plying between Los An- geles and the mining camps of Arizona, Mr. Mesmer and a Mr. Yander fitted out a fourteen- span prairie "schooner" and trailer. These were loaded with groceries and provisions. Luck went against them from the start. The night before starting one of his mules strangled himself, and
on the following day, going down the incline on the El Monte road near Savannah, through the brake catching, another mule was killed. The outgoing journey from this on went well, the gro- ceries and provisions were sold at most satisfac- tory prices and they were homeward bound with high hopes, when some jealous trader, euvious of their competition, poisoned the water spring from which the stock had been given to drink. All the horses and mules died, and while they were dying a heavy windstorm arose, blowing stones as big as hen's eggs, almost covering the entire wagons and completely obliterating the road. The sudden change of hope was heart-rending. Their saddened and worried feelings can be better imagined than described, on the lonely desert road, with not a single animal left to pull a wagon or ride to a point to secure aid. They finally concluded to abandon the wagons and strike out on foot for the nearest stage station, from which point passage was secured for Los Angeles.
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